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The book world is psyched right now as the literary award season is finally rolling into town. First up on the glittering list of accolades is the Orange Prize, the UK’s prestigious award for fiction written by female authors. With the longlist released tomorrow I thought I’d give you my two-penny worth, so here are my top 5 reads that I believe to be well deserving of a place on the longlist:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Fin-de-siecle wizardry, inventive storytelling and one of the best love scenes you’ll ever read. Full (and extremely excitable) review here.

The Land of Decoration by Grace McCleen

McCleen spins her experience of childhood in a fundamental religion to create a quirky and surprisingly dark tale of ten-year-old Judith and her newfound miracle-making powers. My review for Stylist magazine is coming soon…

The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan (out end of March)

I’m reading this right now and I am hooked. 22-year-old Grace is on trial for her life. We know she survived a shipwreck and 3 weeks at sea… but we don’t know how…

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Literary fiction at its absolute best. Ivey takes inspiration from a Russian fairytale to tell the story of Jack and Mabel, a childless couple in 1920s Alaska who make a little girl out of snow. Full review here.

22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson

Hodgkinson’s post-war page-turner follows a Polish couple and their young son as they adjust to a new life in England. 8-year-old Aurek steals the show in this heartbreaking tale of wartime secrets and survival. Review here.

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